Maggie + Ryan // Innsbrook, MO Rustic Lakeside Wedding Photography

I'm excited to finally be sharing this gorgeous Innsbrook Wedding with you!

Maggie & Ryan have been together something like 8 years & you can tell they are best friends.  They have stayed together through many years of school & jobs in separate cities & finally committed to stick together forever on this beautiful September day...it was perfect!  Literally one of those days, if I wasn't shooting a wedding, I would say "what a perfect day for a wedding"...so glad I actually had an outdoor wedding on such a day! haha

I love when all the girls can be a part of the bride getting ready - such a special & perfect way to start the day.  I mean, just look at Maggie beaming with all her closest girls surrounding her with excitement. 

mmmmmm...their first look was so sweet. 

This wedding party was so fun!

Thanks again for allowing us to capture this perfect & memorable day for you Maggie & Ryan!
We loved every minute of it!

Theresa & Frank // St. Charles Engagement Photography

I had so much fun hanging out with Theresa & Frank earlier this fall...you'll probably be able to tell once you look through these that I was laughing the whole time we were together (& couldn't stop smiling the whole time I was editing their images too).  Theresa & I actually went to high school together - even though we haven't spoken in years (she joined the Army & lives in Italy now!) it was so great to catch up & laugh together over some coffee with her & her future hubby!  They were only in town for the weekend, so we tried to keep this session short & simple, but I'm so happy with all the wonderfully relaxed & sweet images we were able to get in that short time.  I hope you enjoy them too!

Andrew + Stephanie // Immaculate Conception Dardenne // St. Charles Wedding Photography

I am so happy to be sharing this beautiful & spunky summer wedding with you today!  Do you remember Stephanie & Andrew's Engagement photos?  These two are so sweet & fun together - when they look at each other, you can tell how much love & affection they share - I knew their wedding would be a perfect representation of their fun-loving spirits!

You know it's going to be a great day when:
A. The Bride & Groom don't seem a bit flustered or freaked out by the fact that it was raining cats & dogs outside
B. The Bride does a little happy, high-kick dance after she puts on her garters
C. It's the Priest's first wedding ever (he did a pretty darn good job too)

I love this one of them alone in the chapel...so sweet & peaceful.

Prayer works people!  That rain stopped just long enough for all of their fun wedding party portraits & came right back during the reception after everyone arrived.  Thank you Jesus!

That rain really did us some good...the colors were all so rich & beautiful for their photos!

Congratulations again Stephanie & Andrew!!

Ryan + Taylor // Oak Knoll Park // St. Louis Engagement Photography

These two are so giddy & in love with each other it just makes your heart bubble over!

I have had the delightful pleasure of photographing Taylor & her family for many years now & was so excited when she & Ryan asked me to capture their wedding next year.  It's always fun to get to celebrate lots of different occasions with my clients (in this case: family photos, her senior photos, her sister's engagement, wedding, & baby girl's photos, etc.)...It's fun to know so many people at this kind of wedding & have lots of goodbye hugs to share at the end of the day.  
I can't wait to celebrate with all of them!

For now, I'd like to share the quickie engagement session we did on a rainy afternoon earlier this fall...enjoy!

Jason + Bethany // Vintage Inspired Backyard St. Louis Wedding Photography

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!  I hope you had a lot of fun giving thanks & enjoying delicious food with your friends & family..we have so much to be thankful for!

I have been looking forward to sharing this wedding for over a year now!  I shot it last November, but didn't have my new website/blog together yet & by the time I did, I decided to wait until Autumn to share it (since it's just loaded with beautiful, creative, & sweet fall details)...I hope you enjoy looking through these as much as I do!

Jason & Bethany had a very sweet & intimate ceremony on the deck of her sister's home on the loveliest day last November.  They Exchanged their strong vows & beautiful rings in the presence of their loving & supportive family...it was so precious & refreshing!  

All of the details were in some way, shape, or form created by Bethany.  She & Jason have a huge variety of beautiful vintage finds which added the perfect touches to their wedding day.  After the ceremony they shared a colorful & delicious family-style brunch together around a large table...seriously it was like a dream! 

Seriously Bethany & Jason...John Paul & I were so honored to celebrate with you on this beautiful day God set aside for you two to become one!  Praying for overflowing blessings & health on you & your family!  
love & hugs, Gertie

Jake + Katie // Shaw Nature Reserve // Engagement Photography

Well, that was officially the busiest October I've ever had!  With shoots almost every day & lots of meetings, emails, & editing between them, it literally went by in a blink.  BUT it's always worth it when I have happy clients & oodles of lovely images to show for it.  :)  

Jake & Katie were my 1st of 7 engagement sessions I had last month alone & it was a great kick-off to the fall season!  I had never been out to Shaw Nature Reserve & since they live over there & love it I trusted them that it would be great - I had no idea of how amazing this place was!  I could have done a whole session in the first little portion we visited, but then we proceeded to hike through the woods on a walking path, over a creek & up to a lookout, just making it back to the entrance before dark.  I'm in love with this place!  I wish it was closer to me so I could go all the time...but I'm sure I'll be heading back much more now that I got a little taste of it's greatness!

I had so much fun hiking through this beautiful place with you Jake & Katie - thank you for introducing it to me!  AND I'm so excited about your wedding - it will be here before we know it!

Taylor // Class of 2015 // St. Charles Senior Portrait Photography

This gorgeous & sweet spirited gal is Taylor.  She is a 2015 graduate whom I had the pleasure of capturing in this special season of her life...you'll be able to tell looking through these images that we had a lot of fun together!

Taylor,  Thanks again for allowing me to share in this special season for you!  You rocked your session!
I hope you have a blast finishing out this special senior year of high school!

hugs

Josey + Kevin // Backyard Wedding Photography

I've been excited about sharing this wedding with y'all since the day I shot it earlier in the spring!  haha I have a bad habit of getting photos ready to post after I finish editing them & then I proceed to get busy with the projects currently on my plate & forget to come back, put the actual post together & PUBLISH them!  Not really sure what to do to make that better, but for now I'll just keep sharing at this random pace & hope y'all just enjoy the treats when they come.  ;)

Kevin & Josey were SO MUCH FUN to work with!!  They are both so colorful, full of life, & easy to be around.  They have the sweetest love story & it was such a pleasure to capture this beautiful piece of it for them.  

That umbrella isn't just for show people...it was raining...reeeeeeeally raining!

Everyone was a good sport about the weather - even when I had them raise their umbrellas to get the light on their faces.  haha One of the ushers even cleaned off all of our shoes after we piled them up at the door to move the photo party inside.  
It was so nice that Kevin & Josey didn't fret when the rain kept coming & going on their wedding day (even when the tornado sirens were going off) - they just kept a positive attitude & enjoyed the day for what it was - they day they would say "i do" to forever with one another . . . my oh my it was sweet.

They even had a beautiful little rainbow come & brighten things up a bit.

& what do ya know, the sun even made an appearance for their beautiful backyard ceremony & reception.

Even though the ground was just a big muddy mess, no one seemed to mind because it was such a perfectly  memorable & sweet occasion. 

How creative & awesome is this bench guestbook?!  I wish I had thought to do something as cool as this!

Thanks again for inviting me to share in this special day for you Kevin & Josey!  
Here's to your very happily ever after together!